Damper-lever flange for piano-actions.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

w. w. MoGALL. DAMPER LEVER FLANGE FOR PIANO ACTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

IOv

'taining the damper against the string.

U NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM WV. McOALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FIFTH TO WILLIAM F. STONE AND ONE-FIFTH TO URIAH L. MGCALL, BOTH OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

DAMPER-LEVER FLANGE FOR PlANO-ACTlONS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed January 3, 1905. Serial No. 239,313.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM IV. MOOALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, inthe county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Damper-Lever Flanges for Piano-Actions; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to a damperlever flange for piano-actions, and has for its object to provide a device of the class described which is simple and economical in construction and operation and comprises features of novelty and utility which will presently be fully described, and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like reference-numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a general view of an upright .piano action in side elevation, showing the damper-lever carried on my improved flange. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a damper-lever mounted on the flange-rail by my improved means. Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of a flange-rail and the damper-lever and flange, a portion of the lever being broken away to better show the flange. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the damper-lever flange.

In piano-actions as they are ordinarily constructed the hammer-butt and damper-lever are pivotally mounted between the arms of opposite ends of a double-headed wooden flange which is carried on the flange-rail, suitable rebound mechanism operating the hammer-butt, and a straight-wire spring secured to the flange-rail and bearing against the upper part of the damper-lever, yieldingly re- In setting up and repairing an action so constructed great inconvenience and loss of time is experienced in assembling and adjusting the parts, and the flange being ordinarily made of wood is affected by climatic conditions, causing an imperfect operation of the parts.

While I show in the drawings a complete piano-action, this application is limited to the damper-lever mounting, the majority of the remaining parts being the same ordinarily used.

Referring more in detail to the parts, in 1, 1 is the riser; 2, the jack-bed; 3, the jack; at, the back-check; 5, the knock-off; 6, the damper-spoon :7, the flange-rail; 13, the hammer-butt flange. Rigidly secured to the flange-rail 7 is my improved spring-flange 17, which comprises a body portion resting on the rail and extending outwardly a short distance therefrom and at a suitable distance from the rail a depending offset 18, the outer end of which is curved upwardly and inwardly and is provided at its loose end with the upwardly-projecting lip 23. of the flange is provided with a strengthening member 25, which is preferably an overlap of the body, said strengthening member tending to hold the inner portion of the flange rigid and throw the spring on the curved portion 19.

The damper-lever which I use is of the ordinary construction, with the exception that it is provided with the perforation 22, through which the outer spring portion of flange 17 is projected in mounting the lever. When lever 2a is in position on the flange, the upper spring member 19 is tensioned and holds the lever up against the bottom of the loose The body portion portion of the flange, the offset 18 and lip 23 holding the lever from displacement. \Vhen so mounted, a limited pivotal movement is allowed the lever, its upper portion being normally advanced, owing to the tension of the spring 19, which is depressed when the lever is posited thereon.

With this construction when the key of the instrument is depressed the inner end of the jack-bed is raised and the damper-spoon forced outwardly against the lower end of the damper-lever, forcing the upper end of said lever inwardly against the tension of spring 19, thereby throwing the damper out of contact with the string. The raising of the jackbed elevates the jack and forces the hammerbutt forward and the hammer against the string. When the key is released, the hammer is released from its contact with the string and the spring 19 forces the upper portion of the damper-lever outwardly and the damperlever into contact with the string. As can be understood from the drawings and description, the operation of the parts is the same as in the ordinary action, my invention simplifying the mounting of the damper-lever and obviating the necessity for the awkward wire springs which operate said lever.

lVhile I have described my invention as relating solely to a piano-action, I do not wish to limit myself to this use, as the utility of the flange when applied to other structures is apparent. Neither do I wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of construction therein shown and described, inasmuch as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a one-piece flange of a base portion, a neck portion extending from said base, a depending offset on said neck, an upwardly-curved spring portion extending from said offset, a lip on the end of said spring portion, and an overlapped strengthening portion on said base, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a suitable rail, a device of the class described comprising a base portion secured to said rail, a neck portion extending outwardly from said base, a curved offset portion depending from said neck, a curved spring portion continuing from said offset, and a lip on the end of said spring portion, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a suitable rail, a device of the class described comprising a base portion secured to said rail, a neck portion extending outwardly from said base, an offset portion depending from said neck, and a spring portion extending upwardly and inwardly from said offset, and a suitable lever having a perforation therein fitting over said spring and otl'set portions, substantially as set forth.

lln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM l/V. MoOALL.

lVitnesses:

F. E. BURROUGHS, 7M. F. STONE. 

